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WASHINGTON: The US administration has informed Congress that the consolidation of democratic institutions is one of its key initiatives in Pakistan.

Ambassador Richard Olson conveyed this message while justifying the $742 million US assistance for Pakistan during a hearing on next fiscal year’s budget proposals at the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr Olson, who served in Islamabad for three years and is now Washington’s special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, also underlined the US administration’s other priorities in its dealings with Pakistan.

Mr Olson reminded the lawmakers, who had urged the administration to discontinue its military aid to Islamabad, that Pakistan remained a key state in a very sensitive region.

“Our relationship with Pakistan, a growing country with more than 190 million people, a nuclear arsenal, terrorism challenges and a key role to play in the region, will remain a critical one,” he said.

The US diplomat acknowledged that the Pakistani government was engaged in a concerted and difficult fight against terror groups that threatened Pakistanis.

But he repeated a long-time US complaint that Pakistan did not show equal enthusiasm in dealing with all terrorist groups. “Unfortunately, Pakistan does not take equivalent steps against groups that threaten its neighbours,” he said.

The US administration has “repeatedly and frankly” urged “most senior Pakistani leaders” also to target the Haqqani network in their wider counterterrorism operations in order to keep their commitment not to discriminate between terrorist organisations, Mr Olson said.

“Effective engagement with Pakistan is grounded in our national interest. We have carefully calibrated our FY 2017 budget request balancing global funding constraints and our interest and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he assured the lawmakers.

During the debate, Congressman David Cicilline noted that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws were being used to settle feuds, grab land or persecute religious minorities by making false allegations. “Are there any incremental changes that can be made to these laws that would improve the situation?” he asked.

Ambassador Olson pointed out that Pakistani authorities recently executed the man who had killed Punjab governor Salman Taseer for commenting on these laws.

Mumtaz Qadri’s case was “widely interpreted in Pakistan as a signal of resolute opposition to vigilantism and to those who would take the law into their own hands,” he said.

“There were protests at the execution of Qadri, but they have not been successful,” he noted. “This illustrates the divide in Pakistani society.”

Mr Olson said he had spent three years in Pakistan where he observed that many Pakistanis were unhappy with the current situation. “I think that they are feeling a bit more emboldened now by some of the actions by the Pakistani Supreme Court to limit the abuse of blasphemy laws and to also extend for protection of law to religious minorities.
We need to do everything possible to encourage them,” he said.

Another Congressman, Brad Sherman, insisted that Pakistan was bent upon destabilising Afghanistan because they “want a weak and divided Afghanistan under any circumstances as a matter of Pakistani national unity and national security”.

He also named a number of Sindhi political activists, such as Anwar Leghari and Kehar Ansari – who were killed or had disappeared and urged the Obama administration to help find the missing.

A senior US official, Donald Sampler of USAID, assured him that the administration had already raised this issue with the Sindh government.

On DawnNews

Comments (41) Closed

All pro India ... How about Afghanistan and USA eliminate groups that attack Pakistan?

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FAZ

Apr 30, 2016 07:33am

An enemy you couldn't fight, you want us to do the dirty job. We should allow afghan transit trade so that many more Yadhaves could easily go here and there?

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Shaukat Ali Khan

Apr 30, 2016 07:42am

Why democracy in not US priority in its Arab friendly countries?

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Factual

Apr 30, 2016 07:51am

PKK is declared and known terrorist group. Unfortunately US has not targeted PKK with any enthusiasm. We urge US to not differentiate between any type of terrorism. Similarly US has failed to take any action whatsoever against separatist Baloch Saudars who are involved in killing of innocent labourers while enjoying their lives in West!

See dear US? It is so easy to point fingers.

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Singhging

Apr 30, 2016 07:56am

Incredible Ambassador Richard Olson has greatly served US interest in Pakistan,since special envoy to Af-Pak the people of Pakistan admire his efforts for peace in the region. His recent statement about democracy is welcome, and people expect to have his next statement about Panama Leaks wherein some top leaders of Pakistan are involved, and US may ensure all it's assistance money be rightly utilize transparently and not go waste to corruption.

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Kamran kashmiri

Apr 30, 2016 08:12am

How about dealing with issues like a toddler killing his mum couple of days ago in the US? You cannot control your gun regime but you are hell bent on finding faults with other countries. Dear congressmen, your home needs you more than the rest of world does.

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Basit Ali

Apr 30, 2016 08:45am

If our government has any self-respect they should say no to this $742 million aid. China can give that or more to us any day

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Satt

Apr 30, 2016 09:13am

Why America is taking the responsibility of bringing in democracy in Pakistan its the work of Pakistanis whether they want democracy or not.

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Abdul Karim

Apr 30, 2016 09:22am

Consolidation of a "Slave State Status" for Pakistan is top US priority. Government of Pakistan can live in its own paradise but people in Pakistan understand US intentions. Buying Pakistan for 700 million dollars, government of Pakistan may be amused but not the people. Instead of promoting trade, US wants is a country that depends on US & IMF loans & charity plus humiliation for state and people of Pakistan. If US is a well wisher of people of Pakistan than why not promote trade and development of industry, education and technology rather than promote charity and kick backs for big shots corrupt people in Pakistan.

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Abbas Naqvi

Apr 30, 2016 09:34am

He should also have meetings with the opposition leaders and MPs to create favorable political climate to resolve national issues through broader understanding and maturity.Pursuing a policy of dialogue would always pay.

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Sad but true

Apr 30, 2016 09:52am

@Satt
Do you want the 8 F-16?

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N_Saq

Apr 30, 2016 10:10am

This is just politics to pressure Pak. US and everyone else knows that all roads to peace in Afghanistan go through Islamabad and as the Taliban are refusing to sit on the table so US is trying to force Pak's hand to make it happen. The only way Pak will oblige is if it's security is guaranteed, therefore, instead of playing games with Pak it is time for US and others to stop playing games and work towards satisfying Pak security concerns.

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Anwar

Apr 30, 2016 10:16am

Why they are meddling in our affairs?

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Abdul Karim

Apr 30, 2016 10:19am

@Sad but true
8 F 16 number is not enough to do any damage to Taliban terrorism. US is not doing enough to fight terrorism and all the load is on Pakistan's economy and armed forces to battle terrorism in the region. US who created these Jihadist organizations and brought fighters from middle east (including Osama bin Laden) and all over the world is accountable for the spread of terrorism in Pakistan and the region. US is not doing enough to fight terrorism in the region that has killed 60000 Pakistanis in past decade alone. US should share the cost of fighting terrorism or face the consequences that is of US own doings and creation during Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

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Realist

Apr 30, 2016 10:42am

Whether Pakistanis choose democracy or military rule or feudalism or just plain anarchy, why is it USA's business? Self proclaimed policemen of the world.

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Realist

Apr 30, 2016 10:42am

@Sad but true Well, they can keep their F-16s. Pakistanis should move towards China. J-10 I hear is pretty good.

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Khalid Latif

Apr 30, 2016 10:45am

Mr Brad, you are wrong. Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees and Afghanistan's food supplies is through Pakistan. People of these two countries share culture and traditions and are friendly to each other. Stable Pakistan and Afghanistan is in both countries interest. People understand that. We thank Mr Olson, for advocating Pakistan's position before his government. It wouldn't have been neccessary, had Pakistan been blessed with honest, competent and brave leaders of character, instead of the third class, small minded thugs and plunderers who have repeatedly managed to grab the national leadership. Unfortunately, the roots, volume and span of corruption in Pakistan have, literally, become extremely difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate. Knowing all, the people seem to have gone numb and helpless. They can only pray.

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Ahmed bin Babar

Apr 30, 2016 10:56am

Democracy substitutes extremism...

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Wah

Apr 30, 2016 11:15am

Who's running the country ?

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Simple

Apr 30, 2016 11:28am

our Neighbors support terrorism in Pakistan. but No condemnation from US on it like Gulbashan yadev, NDS agent caught

Is it not a double standards

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Saad Jadoon

Apr 30, 2016 12:12pm

Americans can keep their dollors and F-16s. People of Pakistan don't want their democracy shoven down over throats by B-52 bombers. People only want Islamic system shown time and again by surveys conducted by neutral agencies such as Pew etc.

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M. Asghar

Apr 30, 2016 12:27pm

The USA created the mess in the region and now they try to use it for geopolitics. Here Pakistan has to stick to its own interests.

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Observer

Apr 30, 2016 01:18pm

This is Noora Kushti inside American establishment, money is peanuts, Pakistan must maintain its national interests supreme.
These committees are American system, these are not our rulers nor representative, most members are lobbies like the Indian Americans asking for transit trade and one can see the his link: their strings are somewhere else simple puppets or muppets. Don't worry of their ignorant noises.,

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DifferentPerspective

Apr 30, 2016 02:03pm

For how long we will keep looking towards US for the next "aid" package and for next mercy slap. Look at Iran, besides all the sanctions for so many years it came out stronger and prouder and now everyone, including US, is queuing up to do business with Iran. There is no wealth bigger than self-respect and dignity. For God sake stop begging to US or West. We will be just fine without their "aid".

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Patriot Pakistani

Apr 30, 2016 02:19pm

USA should get stuffed along with it's so called democracy. Neither we need USA nor their stupid mantra of democracy.

This woman speaks like an Indian national than a US congress woman. Shows where her loyalties are.

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Zak

Apr 30, 2016 03:02pm

“Our relationship with Pakistan, a growing country with more than 190 million people, a nuclear arsenal, terrorism challenges and a key role to play in the region, will remain a critical one,” he said.

' A key role in the region' says it all. A regional power, no one can ignore. As for the rest, it's all related to Indian occupation of Kashmir. Resolve that and the rest automatically resolves.

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Zak

Apr 30, 2016 03:02pm

@Satt so, what kind of government does Pakistan have now, if not democracy.

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Zak

Apr 30, 2016 03:03pm

@Sad but true they will come, and it will be compliments of Macdonalds Douglas the makers. Who want the money, one way or the other.

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Zak

Apr 30, 2016 03:05pm

MR Olson was articulate in describing Pakistans issues.nevery Ambassador who comes, sees the truth about the region and goes away extremely sympathetic to Pakistan. They know where the problem lies in the region, but in US , they cannot openly say it.

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SyedChaudhryGangaDinKhan

Apr 30, 2016 04:00pm

"Consolidation of democracy top US priority in Pakistan: Olson:"

Sure. Exactly like consolidation of democracy in Libya, Iraq and Syria.

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Raj

Apr 30, 2016 03:59pm

@Basit Ali If China is going to get benefits that the money will get doubled in three years, they will give. Otherwise, no. But anyway, please do not assume that, China will everything for Paksitan. China is not an ATM machine.

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aslam shaikh

Apr 30, 2016 03:59pm

Please don't try to spread democracy here like it was done in Iraq, Afghanistan an Syria.

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Guest101

Apr 30, 2016 04:41pm

Thanks ambassador Olson.

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Zak

Apr 30, 2016 04:59pm

@Khalid Latif well said, but there are always good people on the horizon, who come and take over to lead us out of the muddy waters. I see only one honest leader and hope he wins next election.

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Khilari

Apr 30, 2016 05:23pm

Please don't mention democracy in context of Pakistan because what US has done in the name of democracy in the world is in front of us.

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Sad but true

Apr 30, 2016 08:07pm

REALIST
If tomorrow they confirm supply of F-16, I suppose you will reject them outright.

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Abdul Karim

Apr 30, 2016 10:35pm

@Realist ...JF 17 thunder can be upgraded with advance components of J-10 Chinese fighters plus French, Swedish, South African, Russian etc components, electronics, electronic warfare equipment, computers, Helmet display for pilots, long range AESA radars, long range missiles purchased and also manufactured in Pakistan. If these components and advance technologies from different countries are introduced in JF-17 fighter than Pakistan will no longer be in need for any F-16 fighter from US. The best option for Pakistan is to UPGRADE JF-17 fighter to 4.5 generation fighter level.

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Ali

Apr 30, 2016 10:57pm

United States supports democracy in Pakistan. Yet, it has not supported elected governments? US - Pakistan relations were at all time low during Asif Zardari's 5 years and have been ignored in PM Nawaz Sharif's 3 years so far? US relations have been most cordial during military regimes. Pakistan received lavish economic and military assistance during Field Marshal Ayub and Generals Yahya, Zia and Musharraf's tenures.

Obama Administration must support Nawaz Sharif's government by increasing economic assistance. Since Coalition Support Fund (CSF) ends in September 2016, vital military assistance is needed to continue global War on Terror. US must not only continue counterterrorism assistance, but "increase" it since ending of NATO / ISAF military operations, greater responsibility has fallen on Pakistan. This assistance can be given via Pakistan Counterterrorism Fund (PCF) to bolster counterterrorism capability / operations vital for regional stability and world peace.

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ali

May 01, 2016 07:50am

First they should take back their country from the Israeli-Zionists who have hijacked their political system and economy then worry about whats going in other countries. Peace to all .

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Aussieman

May 02, 2016 06:22pm

Certainly, Congressmen on Indian pay role. After Musharaf no so called democratic governments put in ant efforts for Pakistan to lobby and lure in these congressmen.